10 Situations to Monitor at Chicago Bears Training Camp

Change often brings about uncertainty. Despite the moves the team has made post-lockout, we know that the Chicago Bears still have some holes to fill, as well as some interesting storylines worth watching.

With less time to make decisions, and more free agents in camp than ever, the Bears' front office and coaching staff will need to be sharp in their evaluation of the players that will make the final roster.

The Bears brought in 48 players since the lockout ended, and while many will not make the final cut, there could be a couple of diamonds in the rough among the undrafted free agents.

Last year, the Super Bowl champion Packers (ouch!) had two undrafted free agents make significant impacts to the team, so anything is possible.

Meanwhile, there are some situations at camp worth monitoring, so let's take a look at each of them in detail.  

Will Matt Forte Get a Contract Extension Before the Regular Season Starts?

Matt Forte rebounded with a solid season in 2010 and will be counted on heavily to produce in the Mike Martz offense again this year.

Remember, despite Martz's propensity to throw the ball a lot, he had a player by the name of Marshall Faulk in St. Louis and I hear he had a pretty good career. In fact, he was enshrined into the Hall of Fame this past weekend.

But Forte and the Bears have a problem. He wants a contract extension and while the Bears say they are willing to give it to him, it becomes a question of timing.

Forte is already considering skipping Saturday's first preseason game for fear of injury, so this will bear monitoring as we go forward.

Forte is still playing under the terms of his rookie deal and wants more than the $1.065 million he is scheduled to earn this year.

I don't blame Forte. A career-ending injury in a meaningless exhibition game could cost him millions of dollars. And a player can't go half speed because that's when injuries are even more likely to occur.

Forte has outplayed his rookie deal. Let's hope this gets done before the regular season starts so that Forte can get some game action in.

When It Comes to Running Backs, Is 3 a Crowd?

They say two's company, three's a crowd. If that old adage holds true, then Chester Taylor had better start packing his bags.

While Taylor insists he isn't concerned, one has to wonder if the addition of Marion Barber spells the end of Taylor in a Bears uniform.

After all, Taylor is coming off of a very disappointing season and Barber seems to be the short yardage back that the Bears had hoped Taylor would be when they signed him as a free agent last year.

One thing working in his favor is that the Bears have already paid him the majority of his money. He made $7 million in 2010 when he averaged just 2.4 yards per carry.

Taylor is scheduled to earn $1.25 million in 2011.

But in a Martz offense, it is hard to see three backs on the roster. I think Taylor will be the odd man out.

Who Will Replace Olin Kreutz?

I feel that the Bears made a mistake when they let longtime center Olin Kreutz leave the team over $500,000. Yes, he is getting old, and his game isn't what it used to be, but he was the leader of the offense and the signal caller for the line.

Now they will be forced to run an unproven center out there each game. Sure, they signed Chris Spencer, but he is still considered unproven in the sense that he hasn't played in this system and with this team.

Keep in mind that the Seahawks didn't even make Spencer a contract offer. And while he would seem to be the logical choice to replace Kreutz, nothing is guaranteed. He will have to earn it.

Spencer signed a two-year, $6 million contract, so he was relatively inexpensive for a player of his age and experience.

The knock on Spencer is that he is too nice and doesn't display that nasty side that is required to bury an opposing player in the trenches.

Spencer doesn't always finish plays, which could open the door for Edwin Williams or Roberto Garza to get some time under center.

Meanwhile, Garza is 32 and has mostly played at guard. This should be an interesting development.

Is Gabe Carimi a Left or Right Tackle?

I was thrilled when Gabe Carimi, the big Wisconsin left tackle, fell into the Bears lap at pick No. 29 in the draft. But the question is, will he be a left tackle in the NFL?

Many scouts believe that Carimi lacks the footwork to be a great left tackle and may be better suited on the right.

Apparently, offensive line coordinator Mike Tice agrees, as J'Marcus Webb has been starting on the left during camp. According to Tice, there is no controversy and this is the way it will be unless someone falters during a game.

This is worth monitoring for a couple of reasons.

First, Carimi needs every opportunity to succeed. The Bears simply cannot afford another first-round draft pick to fail.

Second, Carimi is depended on to help improve the line. Other than his addition, how else has the line actually improved? Heck, if anything, they took a step backward when Kreutz left.

And third, the decision could be costly to Jay Cutler. If Webb falters, Cutler could get killed from the blind side.

Can Chris Williams Play Anywhere?

Former first-round draft pick Chris Williams has been tried at right tackle, left tackle and left guard, and he has been disappointing everywhere he has played.

Heck, he has even been mentioned as the Bears' center of the future. As scary as that may sound, Williams' play at guard so far in camp has been even scarier.

So, is Williams destined to be a bust? Well, you can bet that Jerry Angelo will have the coaching staff give him every chance to succeed. If this was a lower round draft choice, he might get cut.

The problem is that while Williams is athletic and has decent footwork, he lacks strength and an aggressive attitude. His mechanics are not fundamentally sound.

This "bears" watching, given that the Martz offense depends heavily on blocking. We all saw last year how bad things can get when the line is a sieve.

 

How Will Jay Cutler Bounce Back from Criticism and Controversy?

Jay Cutler is certainly no stranger to controversy. In Denver, he was criticized for interceptions in the red zone and his red-zone problems have followed him to Chicago.

But last year's disappointing end to the season brought about new heights of ridiculousness for Cutler to have to deal with.

Even fellow players in the NFL (not his teammates, however) openly criticized Cutler for coming out of the NFC Championship game with an injury.

Now, to believe that Cutler isn't tough is like believing in the Easter Bunny. Any QB who could survive 56 sacks must be pretty tough.

Still, Cutler seems to have more of a chip on his shoulder with a lot to prove in 2011.

So, how will Cutler respond? The question remains to be answered, but I think this could be a breakout season for Cutler.

It is his second year in Martz's system, so he should be more comfortable. And while I would have preferred to see the team add a true No. 1 wideout, the blocking should be better.

Meanwhile, Cutler is among the many Bears who appear to look stronger in camp.

Can This Be a Breakout Year at Receiver for Devin Hester?

Just when we thought that the Bears were scaling back Hester's wideout duties to focus more on his return game, now comes word from training camp that Hester may be featured even more prominently in the Bears' 2011 plans at the wide receiver position.

Last year, Hester got his punt return game back on track and some of the blame for his lack of production over the previous two seasons was said to be due to his trying to learn the receiver position.

So far, Hester and Cutler have had a connection in camp.  And Hester does look to be in the best shape of his career.

I wouldn't be surprised if Martz called more long pass plays to Hester this season than he did in 2010. I just hope it doesn't affect his ability to return punts and kicks, especially since Danieal Manning is gone.

Will the Bears Regret Trading Greg Olsen?

The Bears traded tight end Greg Olsen to the Panthers, and free agent Matt Spaeth and Kellen Davis have assumed the primary duties. But will the Bears miss throwing to Olsen?

We know that Cutler and Olsen are friends, and even though Jay has said all the right things in public, privately we don't know how he feels about losing one of his weapons.

Personally, I think the move made sense. Martz does not really value pass catching tight ends who do not block well. Spaeth, the ex-Steeler, can block and the Bears also brought back Desmond Clark who is a good blocker (if he ever plays, that is).

I do believe that Olsen, the former first-round draft pick, will shine in Carolina.

Nothing can be finer than for Olsen to be in Carolina from his perspective. He has wanted out ever since Martz came on board. But is it good for the Bears?

I think so, as the only upgrade to the offensive line has been the addition of Gabe Carimi.

Chris Spencer may be a slight downgrade from Olin Kreutz, so additional blocking will have to come from the tight ends.

Plus, Martz likes Kellen Davis, so we'll see if Davis can pick up some of the slack.

Meanwhile, the fourth game of the season should be interesting.

Do the Bears Have Enough Depth in the Secondary?

The Bears failed to draft a cornerback, instead taking safety Chris Conte in the third round. Although Conte looks fine in the early going, this could prove to be a mistake.

Not only was Conte a reach, the Bears would be in trouble if Charles Tillman went down with an injury.

Tillman is the only reliable corner on the roster, and while there are plenty of other candidates, none of them are proven commodities.

Zack Bowman and Tim Jennings are competing for the other starting cornerback role. This is Bowman's contract year, so he may be motivated.

Meanwhile, Chris Harris, a safety, is fine in the run-supporting strong safety position. But free safety is another area of concern for the Bears.

Major Wright has been injury prone early in his career, but even when healthy, you can't expect to just pencil him in to replace Danieal Manning and consider that a lock.

Wright is a good tackler and hitter, but his coverage skills are questionable. Craig Steltz hasn't impressed me.

In short, this is the biggest concern for the Bears on defense.

Will the Field Be in Playable Condition in Time for Saturday?

The Bears were forced to cancel their scheduled fan fest this past weekend because the playing surface at Soldier Field was unsafe. Apparently someone forgot to water the field and seams opened up.

So will the grass field be in acceptable condition for this Saturday's first preseason game against the Bills? Well, Tim LeFevour says so.

LeFevour is the general manager of Soldier Field and he is accepting responsibility for the embarrassment that occurred Friday night.  

But even if the field is ready to go, what about the player's division regarding whether the team needs to install FieldTurf or keep the grass? And what about Brian Urlacher's claim that the team is better suited for the artificial stuff?

Do the poor playing conditions affect the team or could it be a competitive advantage? Personally, I think the situation is deplorable and unfitting of a professional team in a big market like Chicago.

If anyone gets injured playing—especially in a relatively meaningless exhibition game—due to poor field conditions, the entire Bears season could go down the drain.

Imagine a season-ending injury to Cutler, Urlacher, Peppers or Forte? It would not only be devastating, but preventable if it was due to the lousy surface at Soldier Field.

If the park district can't maintain the field, then perhaps concerts shouldn't be held at the stadium. The whole thing really grinds my gears.

U2?